1853 was arguably one of the most memorable years in the
world history. It was the year when Levi Strauss and Tissot were founded. It was also the year
when the Potato Chips were first prepared. Closer home however, 1853 was
important for a wholly different reason - It was the year when the first
railway train ran from Bombay to Thane. Crawled would be a better word - the train,
Aag Gadi (How apt is that?!) covered 34 kms in 57 minutes.
While a metro system and a monorail are in progress to diffuse
this accident-waiting-to-happen, the love for Mumbai locals can seep into the
staunchest of hearts. Even if it does not, prolonged exposure to locals can
change you irrevocably - either make you stronger or break you completely. The local
also happens to be a very good teacher. Some of the best lessons that can be
learned in the process of travelling include:
160 years later, the Mumbai train system has expanded at an
extraordinary pace; running 2343 trains and carrying 6.94 million
passengers daily. If the numbers don't add up, kindly feast your eyes on a typical
Mumbai local:
 |
| Just another day at the station |
1.
Strategic Analysis: I learned my first truly
practical strategy generation and application through trains. Train journeys
have their own SWOTs with slightly varying definitions:
· Standing: This involves a lot of planning. The
bag has to be taken care of, the sticky hands and faces have to be avoided, the
sleeping-lady-on-your-shoulder has to be gently nudged, and most importantly,
the ones-who-come-to-fight must be pointedly ignored.
· Weaning: A gradual weaning from lady-like whims
occurs. After few months ( or years), someone's foot on top of your own does
not elicit the necessary cry of pain, nor does being crushed to death, or being
sandwiched in the middle of four thick skinned ladies.
·
Opportunity: The seating opportunity is a
difficult one to grab, especially by the genteel personnel. The steps involved
are: Barge in - > Poke everyone asking where they will get down -> Stand right
over their head until they get up -> Get into a mini fight to occupy that seat.
Or you can take a loser's way out and stand in a corner like I do.
· Tension diffusion: The approach of a station can
send everyone in a frenzy, even if they aren't getting down. It's palpable.
People hold their breath, laugh nervously, get into position and start pushing
the ones in front - just to let go of all that pent-up energy.
2.
Need for Speed: The amateurs see a train which has reached
the platform about 200 metres away and decide to let it go. The seasoned ones
run. They push, scream, shout at the oncoming traffic and plead with the driver to
wait for at least one or two more seconds. Invariably there is an Shah Rukh
Khan-heart girl inside the compartment, leaning and holding out her hand
for you to latch on to.
3.
Ignore or Procure: The most interesting part of
the train journey is the shopping opportunity. There are trinkets, books, home
supplies, flowers and snacks. Sold at about 1/3rd of the market
price, the wares are tempting, and the journey is an important lesson in
controlling one’s wayward desires.
4. Respect (or Callousness as the case may be):
Local trains brings out the true character of a traveller. It hit a particular
low when a college girl was periodically kicking a 60+ year old lady sitting down, asking her to
move a bit so that she could stand. There are very few (less than 5%) who get
up for a pregnant woman/mother and none of them think twice before lashing out
at older, tired or diseased women. Fights are started with little incentive and
swear words are used in abundance.
Mumbai locals are an enriching experience. There are
unwritten rules and counter-intuitive codes of conduct. There is always a
temptation to be a little less human and a little more cruel. However, there are
people who overcome that by making lasting relationships and singing
old melodies at the top of their voices. Conversation flows freely ranging from
books, music and recipes to weather, politics and cricket. There are beautiful
eunuchs coming in, singing and teasing everyone mercilessly providing the much
needed frivolity. There are kids who enjoy the variety of the company and
the novelty of the journey ( I can vouch for one at least!). The local trains are that and much more; for they are
an exact mirror of the city they run in.
